The Poetry Lounge; SlamNation

In 1984, a construction worker launched a poetry reading at a Chicago jazz club, breathing working-class life into the heretofore often rarified flavor of “open-mic” verse. Not long after, the “Poetry Slam” concept, in which people explore free self-expression through the medium of poetry and are judged both by a combination of panel judges and audience response, was born and spread across the nation, with regular events being held in nearly every state. Building on the Poetry Slam movement, the “Poetry Lounge” is one of the largest weekly “slams” in the country and formed the basis for the 2003 Tony award-winning show Def Poetry Jam. A taping of a live slam featuring the 2004 National Slam Champions performing their works and sharing thoughts about their pieces, The Poetry Lounge, hosted by award-winning Def Poets Shihan and Poetri, serves up a blistering array of percussive, fast-paced, and emotionally-charged poetry that bears little resemblance to the stately odes and sonnets by Shakespeare, Keats, Wordsworth, and others. But the soul of poetry is evident here, which is why this title--filled with terrific performances by some of the country's best talent--is excellent for introducing verse to teens and young adults. DVD extras include extended interviews, historical notes, and a classroom lesson plan. Highly recommended. Aud: H, C, P. (L. Stevens) SlamNation documents a year in the life of the National Poetry Slam, a coast-to-coast competition between groups of slam artists. Shown theatrically, as well as on HBO and Cinemax, Paul Devlin's fast-moving film tracks the fortunes of New York City's Slam Team as it zigzags its way to the finals after taking on 120 poets from Austin, Portland, Boston, Seattle, and elsewhere. The Big Apple stars--crowd favorite Saul Williams, muMs da schemer (Oz), Jessica Care Moore, and Beau Sia--cope with strict rules, lots of travel, the distant promise of cash rewards, and the challenge of remaining loose and inspired despite mounting tensions as the crowds grow bigger and the stakes get higher. What's amazing is that this adrenaline and anxiety is spent for the greater glory of lyricism, the "Olympics of Verse." DVD extras include a commentary track, deleted scenes, additional poems, and the option to watch complete versions of every poem from the film. In addition, this "educational edition" features a special play mode that removes potentially offensive language, making this appropriate for grades 9-12, as well as general audiences. Recommended. Aud: H, C, P. (T. Keogh)